GCB Bank PLC has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening Ghana–China trade ties as it joined the Chinese community in Accra for the climax of the 2026 Chinese New Year Festival, themed “The Year of the Horse.”

The celebration, held on Sunday, March 1, at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, brought together members of the Chinese and Ghanaian communities in a display of cultural exchange, unity, and shared heritage.

The event aimed to strengthen friendship, promote cultural appreciation, and reinforce the longstanding bilateral relationship between Ghana and China.

Speaking on the sidelines of the festival, the Head of Afro-Asian Banking and State-Owned Enterprises at GCB Bank PLC, Aurelia Baaba Ofori Odame, underscored the significance of the Ghana–China economic corridor.

"The Ghana-China relationship is one that has spanned over decades. Data from 2024 through shows that the volumes of trade are around $11 billion, and 40% of our imports originate from the Chinese market. About 40% of our exports also land in the Chinese market as well. So, it's a huge opportunity for us,” she said.

According to her, the scale of trade presents a strategic opportunity for GCB to position itself as a key enabler within the corridor.

She noted that the bank has built capacity through partnerships across the Asian corridor and invested in solutions that address cultural nuances, payment challenges, and language barriers.

“And for GCB currently, we have Mandarin-enabled relationship managers. We have payment solutions that touch the hearts of businesses or the trade in this corridor.

"So, we feel we are ready to capture the trade in this corridor. And today, we are here to reassure the Chinese community that we are ready. One of our strategic pillars in GCB is client centricity,” she stated.

Ms Odame highlighted several products designed to ease cross-border transactions, including the Ghana-China Import Solution, which allows traders to connect directly with manufacturers in China without the need to travel.

She also outlined the bank’s export proposition, which links Ghanaian exporters to ready buyers in the Chinese market.

On payments, she explained that GCB offers RMB-based solutions, enabling clients to transfer directly from Ghana cedis to Chinese renminbi without converting first to US dollars.

She added that the bank has also introduced UnionPay services on its mobile app, allowing users to scan QR codes and make payments in China seamlessly.

Also addressing the media, the Chief Marketing Communications and Customer Experience Officer of GCB Bank PLC, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, said the bank’s participation in the festival reflects its respect for cultural diversity and its recognition of China as a major economic partner.

“GCB is very big on heritage and culture. And we understand that China is increasingly becoming a major partner to us. It's an effort for us to show respect for cultural diversity and to appreciate their value in this deepening bilateral relationship that we have with them.

"It's also an opportunity for us to just enforce our role as a bridge between local enterprise and global opportunity,” she said.

She added that through its Afro-Asia Desk, the bank seeks to position itself as a bridge between local enterprises and global opportunities, reinforcing its role in facilitating international trade and strengthening economic partnerships.

The festival served not only as a cultural celebration but also as a platform for business engagement, reflecting the growing economic interdependence between Ghana and China.